Nothing to smile about: Merope Mills

Merope Mills writes an article about war from the point of view of a young person. Hm. I was sceptical when I learned it would be written from that point of view.

So here we are, us twentysomethings, facing an asymmetrical war that targets people we have nothing against; facing threats from cultures we don’t really understand; and dangers we can’t protect ourselves from.

We do not deny the possibility of a decent outcome in Iraq. But beyond that? It will deepen the clash of Christian-Muslim cultures and usher in a world where war and retaliation will be cyclical and inevitable facets of our lives.

How long will it be before we can wear intoxicated smiles of permanent peace? Will it be 10, 20 years from now? Perhaps we’ll be parents of children who have never known what it’s like not to live in fear. Invading Iraq might solve one problem, but it will create myriad others. Problems we will be witnessing for the best part of our lives.